Definition:
Thyroid cancer refers to one of four kinds of malignant tumors of the thyroid gland: papillary, follicular, medullary and anaplastic.
Diagnosis:
After a nodule is detected during a physical examination, a referral to an endocrinologist, or a thyroidologist is the best approach. Most frequently an ultrasound is performed to confirm the presence of a nodule, and assess the status of the whole gland.
Treatment:
Thyroid cancer can be treated with the following: surgery, thyroid hormone therapy, radioactive iodine follow-up screening and therapy, external beam radiation, and chemotherapy.
Symptoms and Signs:
Most often the initial symptom of thyroid cancer is a nodule in the thyroid region of the neck. Many adults, however, have small nodules in their thyroids. But usually under 5% of these nodules are found to be malignant. Sometimes the initlal sign is an enlarged lymph node. Later symptoms that can be found are pain in the anterior region of the neck and changes in voice.
Causes:
When DNA is damaged or altered, changes arise in these instructions. One result is that cells may begin to grow out of control and may form a tumor — a mass of malignant cells.
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